Breeders Cup Betting FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Horse Racing Wagering

 

What is the easiest bet to win?

While there isn't an exact percentage, most people will hit straight bets. Straight bets are any Win, Place or Show Bets. The payoffs of these bets don't exactly make the eyes widen, but they are much easier and less confusing to do.

 

What does it mean if my horse is a scratch? Is he okay?

Yes, horses scratch for many reasons. One of the confusing things about horse racing is the terms surrounding a horse and its' health. Horses can be scratched from a race simply because they are late for medication. There are strict rules surrounding when a horse gets its' medication. As far as your wagering goes, if you have any straight bet or exotic (exacta, trifecta, superfecta) you will get a complete refund for your wagers once the race goes official.

My friend told me about hitting a big pick 6. What does that mean?

A pick 6 is a multi-race wager. This means that you need to correctly pick the winners of 6 consecutive races. While picking one winner can be daunting for most, there have been many novices who took home a big pay day. On big day races like the Breeders' Cup, the pool size (the amount of money that people bet that is shared by the winners) can be enormous. Past winners of the Breeders' Cup Pick 6 have paid millions (including the infamous Fix Six scandal)

 

What's the best way for me to win a lot of money for a little bet?

This year's Breeders' Cup is offering .50 minimum pick 3's. This means you can bet many more combinations for a lot less than usual. In past years', the pick 3's have averaged well over $1,000 for a two dollar payoff.

If there is one piece of advice you can give about winning on Breeders' Cup Day, what is it?

Avoid betting favorites. On average, favorites win around 33%. The number on Breeders' Cup day is much lower. Don't be afraid to go ahead and bet a horse with longer odds.

Be the King of the Cup - Breeders' Cup Trifecta Challenge November 5th and 6th, 2010

Be the King of the Cup - Breeders' Cup Trifecta Challenge November 5th and 6th, 2010

TwinSpires is offering our Players a chance to Be the King of the Cup and earn an additional $10,000 on Breeders' Cup Weekend. Play the Breeders' Cup Trifecta Challenge, November 5th and 6th and hit as many trifectas as you can for your chance at a $10,000 first place prize on top your trifecta winnings. $15,000 will be awarded in total cash prizes. As an added bonus, 10 pairs of tickets will be given away to the 2011 Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs.

Full contest details here.

10 reasons to open a TwinSpires account to bet the Breeder’s Cup 2010

The Breeder's Cup is only a few days away.  Where will you be betting on it?

1.  I'm going to Churchill Downs– Well, good for you!  I wish I was going. I would love to see Zenyatta make racing history! Are you planning to stand in line behind all of those knuckleheads to place your bets or would you like to have the option of either phoning your bets in to a TwinSpires
operator or even placing them yourself with your smartphone on the TwinSpires mobile wagering platform?  Oh, and if you're at Churchill Downs or many other CDI tracks and OTB's, you can even deposit funds into your account in person.

2.  I'm going to watch and bet at an OTB parlor – If you're doing it in New York State, most OTB's skim about 6% off the top of your winning wagers (and still can't make a profit!).  TwinSpires pays full track prices on all wagers and you can watch the same simulcast feed online at TwinSpires that you would see at the OTB parlor. Playing the races online at TwinSpires.com is like having your own OTB at home.

3.  I'm going place my bets early at the track or OTB and watch the race on TV at home – That's a good plan, but what if there's a scratch or you forget to make a bet or you see a horse in the post parade that looks great (or terrible) and you want to get a late bet in?  If you have a TwinSpires
account you can pick up the phone or jump online and get that late bet in before the race goes off.

4.  Free Brisnet Past Performances – Place any wager with TwinSpires
and the Brisnet Ultimate PP's for that track are free!

5.  $100 Sign-up Bonus – You do have to jump through a few hoops to get it, but it doesn't look too hard to pick up a free $100.

6-10.  Free Race Replays.  Twin Spires Club Reward Points.  Conditional Wagering.  Wager Cancellation.  Online Contests.

Last year's Breeders' Cup Classic goes down as one of the remarkable races
in Breeders' Cup history, as the unbeaten mare Zenyatta defeated the colts to maintain her perfect record with a 14th career victory.

TwinSpires Players watched Zenyatta become the first horse in history to win
two different Breeders' Cup races, following her Ladies' Classic success in 2008.

Amazingly, Zenyatta remains unbeaten (19-0) this season and will once again
be the star attraction as she bids to retain her Classic crown on November 6.

Watch and bet on Zenyatta at TwinSpires.com the official wagering website of Churchill Downs.